Kalanchoe plant named Chivalry

ABSTRACT

A new Kalanchoe cultivar named Chivalry characterized by the combined features of salmon pink flower color, early flowering time, compact plant habit, floriferous habit, good keeping quality, and excellent basal branching.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, andreferred to by the cultivar name Chivalry.

The new cultivar was discovered by the inventor Lyndon W. Drewlow inAshtabula, Ohio, as a spontaneous mutation of the cultivar Majestic,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,794. Chivalry was noted primarily dueto its salmon pink flower color. compared to the scarlet rose flowercolor of Majestic.

Asexual reproduction by stem cuttings taken by the inventor inAshtabula, Ohio has shown that the unique features of Chivalry arestabilized and are reproduced true to type in successive propagations.

The following characteristics distinguish Chivalry from both its parentvariety and other cultivated Kalanchoes of this type known and used inthe floriculture industry. The characteristics are described withcomparative reference to Majestic and the cultivar Citation, disclosedin U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,533.

1. Chivalry has salmon pink (39A to 39B) flowers which are a lightersalmon pink than Citation (52B) and clearly different from the scarletrose (45B) color of Majestic.

2. Flowering time for Chivalry is 4 to 7 days earlier than Citationunder summer conditions and 10 to 14 days earlier under winterconditions. The flowering time of Chivalry is similar to Majestic.

3. Average flower diameter of Chivalry is 15 mm, similar to Majestic butlarger than the 12 to 13 mm diameter of Citation.

4. Average height of Chivalry is 15 to 18 cm under winter conditions,similar to Majestic but shorter than Citation which is 20 to 22 cm.

5. Keeping quality of individual flowers of Chivalry is 3 to 5 dayslonger than Citation. The length of time plants of Chivalry stay inflowers after short day treatment is 1 to 2 weeks longer than Citationand similar to Majestic.

6. Leaf color and size are similar for all three cultivars. However,Citation has deeper cut crentions than Chivalry and Majestic, and thereis more lobing in the leaf of Citation.

7. Internodes, peduncles and pedicles of Chivalry are up to 5 mm shorterthan Citation on a comparable stem.

8. In Chivalry and Majestic, the lower branches tend to grow outward andnot as long as the main stem and upper branches present a moundedappearance. In Citation, all branches and the main stem finish at thesame height resulting in an upright growing plant with flowers on thetop.

9. Total number of flowers in the inflorescence of Chivalry is up todouble the number in the Citation inflorescence due to more branchingand more flowers on each branch.

The accompanying color photograph is a top perspective view illustratingthe overall appearance of Chivalry showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in a color reproduction of this type. Thephotograph was taken on Mar. 31, 1995 under natural light on an overcastday under a ridged plastic greenhouse covering at Ashtabula, Ohio.

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar, based onplants produced in greenhouses in Ashtabula, Ohio during the winterseason of the year. Plants were grown in 10 cm pots and measurementswere taken 16 weeks after rooted cuttings were planted. Heightmeasurements were taken from the soil line of the container. The plantswere grown at 65° to 68° F. night temperatures under 3500 to 4000 footcandles of light, and with nutritional levels on 175 ppm Nitrogen, 75ppm Potassium, and 175 PPM Phosphorous, with trace elements added. Habitof growth, plant height, flowering time, size of leaves and pedunclelength wiil be influenced by nutritional and environmental conditions.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance areused.

Classification:

Commercial.--Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cv. Chivalry.

Parentage: Spontaneous mutation of Majestic, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 7,794.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Stem tip cutting up to 3 cm long.

Time to root.--10 days at 21° C. summer, 14 days at 21° C. Winter.

Rooting habit.--Fine, fibrous, abundant.

Habit and form of Growth.--Compact, flower clusters are held abovefoliage; excellent basal branching results in mounded growth habit.Environment and use of growth regulators will play a role in finalheight.

Foliage.--Leaves are simple and opposite. Size: Average full grownleaves on a plant when grown in a 10 cm pot are 8 to 9 cm long and 5 to6 cm wide. Shape: Ovate, apex obtuse, base rounded. Texture: Glabrous,coriaceous and succulent. Margin: Crenate, shallow lobed. Color: Youngfoliage, top side 146A, under side 146B; mature foliage, top side 147A,under side 147B.

Flowering description:

Flowering habits.--The inflorescence is a compound dichasial cyme.Terminal flower on main axis opens first, followed by the terminalflowers of the side branches, continuing with the subsequent developmentof branches in the inflorescence. Inflorescence is made up of the mainstem and up ten lateral branches.

Natural flowering season.--Early January Flowering time under controlleddaylength at 20° C. in summer is 10 weeks, and in Winter is 111/2 weeks.Flowering time depends on temperature, light intensity and other growingconditions.

Flower buds.--Oblong, up to 7 mm long before showing color, developingtubular as flower petals mature; sheathed in four (4) green sepals.

Flowers borne.--Compound dichasial cymes. Primary peduncle 4 mm indiameter just below the first branch of the inflorescence; length willvary depending on growing conditions. Pedicels vary in length dependingon where they are located in inflorescence.

Quantity of flowers.--Very floriferous with main stem and up to 10lateral branches each having from 30 to 50 or more flowers.

Petals.--Shape: Almost rounded, top cuspidate. Color: Top side whenopening 39A to 39B, fading to 38A to 39B; under side 39B. Number ofPetals: Four (4). Size: Individual petals are 6 mm in which and 8 mm inlength; flower is 15 mm in diameter.

Reproductive organs:--Stamens: Eight (8) in number. Anthers: Flat,elliptical, color yellow-green. Filament color: Light green. PollenColor: Yellow. Pistils: Stigma: Shape flat, mature color is white. StyleColor: Green. Ovaries: Four (4) in number, size 6 mm, color green.

Disease resistance: Chivalry has shown resistance to powdery mildew. Noother disease problems have been noted to date.

Other important characteristics: Chivalry is an addition to a series ofKalanchoe cultivars including Majestic, Revelry (U.S. Plant Pat. No.7,795), Keepsake (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,798), Heirloom (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 7,810), Merit (application pending); Empress (application pending),and Legacy (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,111) that are matched closely forflowering time, plant height, branching and growth regulator response.This allows the domestic grower to sell all eight colors at the sametime from a single planting date and use the same growing methods oneach to end up with a uniform crop. The end product is an easier cropfor the grower to produce and a higher quality crop for the consumer tobuy. All cultivars are ideal for either 10 or 15 cm pot production.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant namedChivalry, as illustrated and described.